The $40 tarp that saved my week in the Smokies

Last May I spent 6 days at Elkmont Campground and the first two nights were pure misery. Rain got in through my tent seams even though the fly seemed tight, so everything felt damp and cold. On day three I grabbed a cheap 10x12 poly tarp from the Gatlinburg Walmart and rigged it as a second roof with paracord. That tarp kept the rain off my whole camp setup, and I slept dry the rest of the trip. Has anyone else found that a basic tarp beats a fancy tent upgrade for wet weather?

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stone.thomas20d ago

Yeah, I learned that same lesson up in the White Mountains a few years back. My tent was fine on the ground but the rain hammered us sideways for two straight days and the fly just couldn't handle the angle. I ended up stringing a cheap blue tarp between two trees right over my whole vestibule and cook area. It wasn't pretty but it made all the difference, kept my gear dry and gave me a spot to stand up and actually cook without getting soaked. After that trip I started carrying a tarp on every outing no matter what the forecast said. They're light, they're tough, and honestly they solve way more problems than a nicer tent ever will. You just need to learn a few good knots and figure out where the water will run before you tie it down.